I didn't want to wake up. I was warm and comfortable. I snuggled down deeper into the blankets. Then all the events of yesterday came flooding back to me and I sat up so quickly that I became very light headed. I put a hand on my head and took a deep breath. That's when I realized that my throat wasn't sore or raspy they way it should be. I let my fingers gently probe my neck and was surprised when I neither felt any swelling or flinched at any pain. I guess dog saliva really does work.
" You don't smell very different from a human. " Came a cold voice. Startled my head turned sharply to look at a glaring inu-yukai.
" For now yes. " I answered. He looked at me curiously.
" Explain. " Sesshomaru said simply. I looked at him for a moment.
" Did your throat not heal well? " Sesshomaru asked, his features darkening.
" No...I mean yes it did. Thank you. " I stumbled over my words.
" No need to thank me. ", He replied, " But you will answer my question. " He commanded. I nodded.
" My scent, along with other things, will change. " I told him promptly. He looked at me. He seemed to either have a staring problem or he liked to look at things a lot, because one he was constantly staring at me and two his stares seemed to last for ever.
" When? " Sesshomaru asked, stopping my internal rant.
" Two days, not counting to day. " I said thoughtfully.
" Three days then. " Sesshomaru answered arrogantly. " What will you look like? " He asked me
" I don't know. ", I replied, " My father made a guess, but we can't be for sure. " Sesshomaru closed his eyes then. I thought the conversation was over, apparently I was wrong. He spoke again.
" Where is your family? " He asked.
" In Siauto. ", I told him, " They sold me to the Geisha house in the South. " I spoke quietly. I hoped he would ask no further, but again I was wrong.
" What did you do to get sent there? " Sesshomaru asked again, his eyes still closed. I tried to control my emotions as I answered.
" I did nothing. ", I replied. Heatedly remembering what Tiosain did to me, " he made it all happen." I spoke holding back the tears. I was unsuccessful as a single tear slipped down my cheek. I saw his eyes open as soon as the tear left my eye. his eyes followed it's path down to my chin. Furiously I wiped my eyes. He looked at me strangely.
" I am sorry. ", I whispered, " I guess I'm not as over it as I thought. " His eyes seemed to darken as I said this.
" What did this man do to you that you still cry? " Sesshomaru asked. His voice was a mixture of emotions. I didn't wasn't to answer, but the growl that Sesshomaru let out was convincing enough.
" His name was Tiosain. I thought he loved me and I thought I loved him. Sometimes when I was alone, I used to think that I forced my self to believe that I didn't love him after. But over time I figured out that I was more in love with the idea of being in love, than actually loving him. ", I stopped and took a breath to continue, " The reason for my parent's selling me to the Geisha House was not only for money. It was also because Tiosain left me at the head of the house. On our wedding day. he left me to be a consort to a very beautiful Geisha, Ayomaynie, if I remember right."
" They thought that if I was to become a Geisha I would have a gracious consort. Because after Tiosain men would look at me. They'd want me just like before Tiosain, But they'd never speak or come near me in public. In short his betrayal left me scared, disgraced, and...unwanted. " I finished, swallowing hard, I closed my eyes and let a few tears fall before I quickly wiped them away. I didn't want his pity nor did I want him to see me as weak.
" No one such as you should ever have to have such a thing hang over their head. " His voice was too damned controlled. I looked at him, his eyes were closed again, but his lips were pressed in a thin line.
" It's okay. I realized I didn't love him and that took some of the pain away. " I explained. He looked at me, his eyes were dark and on fire, but his lips were still presses tightly together. I was about to speak when I realized that we were the only two in the camp. Rin, Jaken, And Ah-Un were subsequently missing.
" Were is... " I started to ask when Rin came through the trees on Ah-Un, and Jaken on his saddle behind her.
" Lady Izumi! ", Rin called, " we brought breakfast and a new kimono for you. " Rin placed a small bundle in my arms. I untied the silky sash and looked in side. It was a kimono alright. I rose to my feet, bowed, and turned into the forest. I thought I remembered passing a hot spring a ways back. I retraced our steps for about five minutes and then I felt the hot steam from the natural springs.
I laid the new kimono, my old one I had gotten yesterday, and my yukata side by side on the rocks. I looked at the trees. Surprisingly there were jasmine, dogwood blossoms, juniper and Sakura trees every where. I reached for the dogwood and Sakura blossoms first. Crushing them up, I let the juices and oils trickle into the water before I let the petals themselves fall into the water. I grabbed a few handfuls of juniper blossoms from the trees, into the water with me.
I crushed them up too and washed my body with the oils. I placed some in my hair and twisted until the blossoms' juice was soaked up by me long tresses. I went under water and rinsed off and got out. I laid on the ground for a moment, drying. I got up and looked in the wrappings of the kimono. Right inside was a binding for my breasts and very high cut shorts. Putting both pieces of underclothes' on, I picked up the lime green yukata. It was short. I put it on and tied the black sash. I gasped, the yukata came only mid-thigh! I pulled out the blood red inner kimono. It came mid-thigh also, but a long piece of fabric came from my right hip down to my ankle. It went from the mid-front of the kimono to the mid-back of it. The outer kimono was exactly the same, only it was black with red lilies on the lower back. Both kimonos' rode low on my shoulders and instead of covering my cleavage as the first had done, this one showed a little more than a bit. I tied the blood red belt tighter than I usually did.
Taking the sides of my hair up and folded at the back of my head, I plucked a long steamed jasmine form the reeds and twined it I my hair. the flower facing out to hold my hair up. I pulled two strands of hair to rest on either side of my face. I checked my reflection in the water. I turned quickly when I sensed a presence nearby. Quickly I slipped the small black and red colored getas on and wrapped the remaining kimono and my old yukata up in the cloth and was about to head quickly back to camp when his voice stopped me.
" Izumi. ", He said barely above a whisper, " You have not finished explaining yourself to me. " I could feel his gaze and I shivered. Did he personally pick these kimonos' out just to stare at me and make me even more awkward around him? I waited for him to speak.
" Your self preservation was strong when you escaped the Geisha House and yet you through yourself in front of bandits to save a girl you did not know. Why? Were so ready to bare the shame of your body being defiled by worthless men, but yet you couldn't bare the disgrace of not holding a man? How do you explain? Did you so miss the Geisha House that at you first chance to... " I cut him off. I couldn't take his self righteous ass any more! They way he spoke to me! What right did he have?! He didn't even know me!
" First!, ", I said irate, " I have never been to the Geisha House, nor have I ever lain with a man. Second it would have been easier because, people would have believed that I had had no control over what happened, that I did my best. Granted I would still have been cast out, but at least they would know I am not worthless as many of them think. ", I stopped again, " They don't know how hard we try for them. They..."
" You said them and then we. Taking the latte to whom were you referring? " Sesshomaru asked. I uttered one word at first. With such disdain did I say it, I could have almost rivaled Sesshomaru's tone.
" Men. ", I looked at him squarely, " I have sworn that no man would get close enough to hurt me again. ever again. " I emphasized. I gathered the small bundle to my chest and walked past him to the camp.
" Not all men are as low as him. " He whispered to me. I gave him no notice. " gather Rin and Jaken, we leave as soon as they are ready. " I nodded. back at camp, I put away my kimono and blanket. I ate the rice ball that Rin offered me and rinsed my mouth out with the small cup of vinegar she handed me next. we left then. The new kimono I wore gave me more freedom and I could ride with one leg on each side. not appropriate for a lady, but much more comfortable. We traveled in silence, with Sesshomaru asking me a question now and then. I answered dutifully. respectful he asked no questions about Tiosain or Siauto.
Then it was silence. We traveled until the sun passed fairly behind the trees. Plunging the land into starlight darkness. It was silent through our supper, even though Sesshomaru ate nothing yet again. I lay down by the fire. Rin snuggled against my bosom, sleeping. Jaken rested against Ah-Un, and Sesshomaru against a tree. The last thing I thought before I closed my eyes was that I had two days left.
I know that this chapter was kind of woe is me, but it can't be very bad. I think from here on out the story goes a little to fast, but can tell me what you think. I have no idea what flowers grow in Japan and the flowers motioned I don't know what the grow on. Plz review.